Revved up road trip

Wednesday

? A Monroe auto dealership sponsored a visit by the team in the "Crossing of America" campaign, which aims to raise money for veterans and their families in its coast-to-coast tour.

• A Monroe auto dealership sponsored a visit by the team in the "Crossing of America" campaign, which aims to raise money for veterans and their families in its coast-to-coast tour.

An American flag waved from the tower of a Monroe Township fire truck and "God Bless the USA" blared from loudspeakers as two star-spangled Jeep Wranglers rolled into the Monroe Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram Superstore Wednesday as part of a cross-country fundraising tour for veterans and their families.

Police motorcycles escorted the two Jeeps down Monroe St. as part of the Spirit of Liberty Foundation's "Crossing of America" campaign, an effort expected to raise at least $1 million through a nationwide tour with specially decorated Jeeps.

The event at the dealership drew a number of veterans, their families, Jeep workers and others who ogled the two cars and chatted with the team that's been piloting them across country.

"We're thrilled to have the Jeep 'Crossing of America' visit Monroe," said Ralph Mahalak Jr., who introduced various dignitaries who showed up for the event.

Among the guests was Julie Ingram, whose stepson, Michael, died April 17, 2010, after being injured by a bomb in Afghanistan.

She talked about Mikey's Minutes, the charity that was started after his death to defray the cost of telephone calls to home from troops overseas.

"They have to pay $45 for 30-minute card to call home in Afghanistan," she said. "Why do our troops have to pay to call home?"

She said the campaign for cell phone time is helping to fulfill one of her son's wishes.

"My son went there by choice," she said. "He was there 11 months. Six weeks shy of coming home, we lost him. He knew he wasn't coming home and did everything he could for his family before he left, and all he told us was 'If something ever happens to me, don't let anybody forget who I am.' "

Also attending the Jeep event was Kathy Miller, the mom of Dennis Miller Jr., who was killed in Iraq on Nov. 10, 2004.

"Little Denny died doing what he wanted," she said. "He shouldn't have been in that tank. They wanted him to be a computer whiz, and he said, 'No, I want to go after the bad guys,' and he did. He paid the ultimate sacrifice, but he died doing what he loved.

"Thanks for everything you do for our troops," she said.

Ryan Emery, a 28-year-old Navy veteran, is part of the drive team and said he's amazed at the time, money and effort dealerships and other organizations put forward to host a visit of the national tour.

"It's not something they have to do," he said.

He said the team crossed paths in St. Louis with Michigan rocker Ted Nugent, who donated a signed guitar to be auctioned off and did a video for the charity. Along its route, the tour has been joined by various other celebrities who have driven a portion of the route or contributed to the cause. On Tuesday, it stopped at The Henry Ford in Dearborn, where Gov. Rick Snyder commended its efforts.

The cross-country campaign was the brainchild of Richard Rovsek of San Diego, who said he wanted to do something for those who give their lives or limbs to protect our liberty.

"Sadly, we take it for granted too often," he said.

He said he's visited thousands of vets throughout the country, heard their stories and wanted to do something to help.

"I never cry in front of them," he said, "but once I'm away from them, I don't have tears — I have waterfalls."

He said the charity will give all donations and proceeds from the ultimate auction of the two Jeeps to help veterans, without extracting any administrative costs.

Those attending the event got to ride over the dealership's 18-obstacle course and look over a World War II vintage Jeep and an Army truck adorned with the names of veterans from the region. Some contributors to the charity get to drive a leg of the Jeeps' journey, which was destined for the Jeep plant in Toledo and then was going to make a stop at another Mahalak-owned dealership in Shelby, Ohio. In August, a visit is planned to a Mahalak dealership in Winter Haven, Fla.

The cross-country tour began May 27 aboard the USS Midway in San Diego Harbor and is to end Sept. 8 on the deck of the USS Intrepid in New York Harbor. The closing ceremony will mark the 10th anniversary of 9/11.

On the Net

www.crossingofamerica.org

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